Food Trauma Symptoms
– Pain
– Nausea
– Bloating
– Indigestion
– Gas
– Fatigue
– Brainfog
Introduction to Food Trauma for Those with Gut Flares
If you answer “yes” to any of the symptoms above, you likely experience food trauma. Food trauma is real.
For those with symptoms of inflammatory gut, food trauma is a common emotional response. Who wouldn’t be afraid to eat a meal or a food which has created acute discomfort, inflammation, or worse?
As a teenager, only five foods were safe for me. I was not allergic to chicken, lamb, zucchini, carrots and eggs. Other foods caused life-threatening asthma, for which I needed to carry epinephrine. Plus, my gut bled constantly from ulcerative colitis.
Consequently, I grew terrified to dine out at restaurants. Even the meals prepared at home by my mother were not always safe for me, either.
For years, like many, she was skeptical that “allergies” and “food sensitivities’ actually existed. My mother imagined if she secretly added pepper and margarine to my eggs, my system would not react.
Do these common scenarios sound familiar? Many of my clients report similar stories. They grew up in families, or were living with partners, who believed their physical responses to food was all in their head.
What is Medical Gaslighting?
When friend or family doubt your condition, you may feel unnurtured and unseen. However, when a medical professional treats your reactions to food as overly dramatic, you begin to doubt yourself and may feel like you are going crazy. This may result in damage to the psyche called medical gaslighting—which can take years to heal.
Food trauma can be formed by a history of bloating or flares due to IBS, colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Even if you have lived as a “foodie”, the loss of a vital organ can change your relationship to food as a joyful pleasure. Notably, if you have lost your gallbladder, or are a cancer survivor, food trauma is understandable.
The best place to heal food trauma is within a community. My Happy Gut Tribe Live calls on Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm PST on TikTok and YouTube are a safe place to share your experiences. You will feel heard, supported, and inspired by a loving, non judgmental community—maybe for the first time.
Food Trauma Connected to Weight Trauma?
Lets explore the painful subject of weight and weight loss. Have you been afraid that anything you eat will turn immediately into fat? Did you have a parent or schoolmate who scolded or chided you for your size? If so, I am so sorry. This early food trauma can lead to gut issues as an adult.
And, if you have struggled with a taboo condition such as constipation, you may also carry food trauma. It is embarrassing for a child to be grilled on their bowel habits. And yet, childhood and teen constipation is prevalent in our society—especially when children are fed the Standard American Diet.
The internet is a wonderfully diverse cornucopia of information. Yet, this at-your-fingertips encyclopedia can also trigger food trauma. Maybe you were scrolling, and read about a certain condition: for instance, leaky gut. Perhaps, symptoms you see listed sound like yours. Immediately, your stomach twists into a knot. Instantly, you are worried that you have a new problem, to add to the ones you already know about. The internet can be our friend – yet also, our foe.
Personal & Private Gut Health Coaching
If you are a new client, it is important for me to understand your history with food. After all, healing a condition such as colitis requires some food restrictions, especially in the beginning. However, do not feel badly about yourself if you struggle to maintain a healthy diet. There are many emotional, as well as physiological, reasons why people struggle. However, weakness is not one of them. You can register for a private coaching call with me. Consider that one half hour with me, may be the best gift you give yourself this year.
Identifying Emotional & Physical Points of Food Trauma
The goal of my coaching is to help you identify legitimate reasons why you fear food, and give you the tools to heal. Additionally, self-compassion is a critical first step for repairing your body, mind, and spirit. First of all, to heal food trauma, identify feelings springing from traumatic experiences. Next, we want to learn if there is a physiological component.
Bugs, bacteria, and parasites can cause inflammation. In some, this irritation becomes severe enough to ulcerate the gut—called ulcerative colitis. Therefore, eliminating nasty critters with protocols such as Bugs Be Gone can help heal the gut. As flares diminish, trust in the body returns. Healing food trauma is not always about focusing on food directly. We want to dive deep to discover the root cause of why the body cannot assimilate or eliminate food without pain.
Another overlooked physiological factor in food trauma is candida. Out of control sugar and carbohydrate cravings is the number one symptom of candida, or yeast overgrowth. A formula such as Yeast Be Gone balances the gut microbiome. This leads to a cessation of cravings. The outcome is that the desire for healthy foods such as vegetables and protein is effortless. When a client shyly admits they struggle with cravings, tests almost always reveal candida overgrowth.
Food Intolerance & Sensitivities Versus Inflammatory Foods
The value of food allergy and food sensitivity testing is to identify foods that trigger symptoms. Surprisingly, these can be healthy foods you would not normally associate with bloat, brain fog, rashes, a stuffy nose, or a sudden five-pound weight gain. Therefore, knowledge of these substances—foods, seasonings, spices, sweeteners is helpful. When you eliminate these substances for at least six months, your body begins to heal. Food becomes your friend again, and it does not feel like “everything you eat makes you sick.” Thankfully, you have identified the true culprits. Of course, your doctor can order tests, but so can you. The most popular brands are 5Strands, Everlywell, MyLAB Box and FoodMarble.
The Power of Digestive Enzymes
Many of my clients and those who live with an inflammatory gut plus food trauma, also experience low stomach acid. If you bloat after you eat, suffer from constipation, headaches, or brain fog, low stomach pH is also likely—and 90% of my clients show low stomach acid. A digestive enzyme such as Enzyme Energy adds hydrochloric acid to the stomach.
This formula is effective in reducing symptoms— even if they have been lifelong. Additionally, the Enzyme Energy I offer guards the gut from bugs, bacteria, and parasites. With adequate stomach acid, these nasty critters perish before they crawl into the small intestine where they may cause SIBO. If they make it farther south into the large intestine, an infestation can cause colitis, diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis.
“I doubt I ever digested anything before I found digestive enzymes. I saw people eating and smiling—and going on about their day. However, I could not imagine what that felt like! Once I began taking digestive enzymes, I relished food for the first time without bloat or blood sugar crash.’
Liquid Nourishment Can Heal Food Trauma
To heal food trauma, I suggest taking a break from solid food. This does wonders to mend the psyche. Switch from solid food for a day, two days, or try one meal a day. Liquid nourishment reduces inflammation, and rests the gut and brain. Use a bone broth brand without onion and garlic—Butcher’s Broth and Zoup are my favorites. Drink as much as you like. One quart yields 120 grams of protein, an adequate daily dose. Buy organic aloe vera juice without sugar or preservatives. My favorites are George’s, Lakewood, and Lilly of the Desert.
How Can I Boost Protein Intake?
All Day Energy and Protein Power offer nutrients to power through your day—without expending digestive energy. During my healing days, if I could not find good food while traveling, my go-to nourishment was protein drinks. Now, I eat two solid meals daily, and drink two protein drinks to boost my brain and balance my blood sugar.
Keep it Simple Day to Day
No need to add a thing to these protein powders to create a protein-packed breakfast, lunch, or snack. They are gluten, dairy, soy and sugar-free, sweetened only with monk fruit. I just add cold water and boom … breakfast served. Especially for kids and teens, feel free to add goat milk or unsweetened coconut, almond or rice milk, frozen bananas, blueberries, and almond butter. If food trauma is part of your reality, my Gut Fix Starter Pack has everything you need to heal. Plus my Flat Belly Pack on sale addresses both gut issues and gut beauty. Start summer looking and feeling your best.
I look forward to seeing you on my ASK JULIA calls this weekend held on YouTube and TikTok at 4pm PST Saturdays and Sundays. Remember, take a deep breath, and trust your body. You will heal.
To Your Health and with Love,
Julia Loggins, Author,
Digestive Health Consultant,
Santa Barbara, California
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